Nimo

Study smarter with Nimo

Personalised revision that adapts to you. Ace your revision with unlimited practice questions that are designed to help you learn faster. We're slowly rolling out to more and more students.

Try Nimo

Ethene, gibberellins and hormone uses in plants

Homeostasis and response • Plant hormones (biology only)

Key concepts

What you'll likely be quizzed about

  • Ethene acts as a gaseous plant hormone, diffusing between tissues and fruits.
  • When fruits ripen or become damaged, ethene production increases, triggering biochemical changes that convert starches into sugars, softening cell walls, and changing color.
  • High concentrations of ethene from rotting fruit can induce ripening in nearby fruits, leading to accelerated ripening and decay.
  • Ethene also controls cell division, supports flower opening, and aids in leaf abscission.

Flashcards

Test your knowledge with interactive flashcards

How do plant hormones produce different effects in various tissues?

Click to reveal answer

Hormonal effects depend on the hormone type, concentration, tissue sensitivity, and local distribution; the same hormone can induce different responses.

Key notes

Important points to keep in mind

Ethene is a gaseous hormone; diffusion allows ripening to spread among fruits.

Ethene controls cell division and assists with flower opening and leaf abscission.

Gibberellins release seed dormancy and initiate germination by activating embryo metabolism.

Auxins promote cell elongation and are used as rooting agents and selective weedkillers.

Ethene application ripens harvested fruit, supporting the transport of unripe produce.

Gibberellins are applied to end dormancy, stimulate flowering, and improve fruit size.

Selective weedkillers exploit differential absorption between plant types; careful application minimizes non-target effects.

Timing and concentration are critical in hormone applications to prevent spoilage and ecological damage.

Built with v0